But when Katie went to bring her bins in later in the day she realised her green bin had not been emptied and a sticker was placed on it saying it was too heavy to lift.

When she complained to her council she was astonished to learn that men are permitted to leave bins if they dont pass the two finger test.

They told me it was normal for binmen to leave bins they couldnt pull with two fingers, The Sun quoted Katie, as saying.

These were big men and the bin was only 6ft from their lorry but they just left it there. Its ridiculous, she added.

Katie said that she had no trouble wheeling the bin round to the front of the house herself and putting it out on the pavement.

She successfully emptied the grass clippings into bin liners and drove them to a local tip.

I work really hard but have to pay PS130 a month in council tax. We are charged for this service without getting anything in return, she said.

However, West Wiltshire District Council denied an official two-fingers policy but admitted it was used as a way of determining weight.

It said heavy bins could break the trucks hydraulic lifting system or topple off.

Nicole Smith, of the district council, said: “Focsa (its waste contractors) are unable to empty wheeled bins that are too heavy due to the safety risk of the bin falling from the vehicle’s lifting gear during emptying.

“If at anytime a bin is considered by the operatives to be overloaded, a sticker will be placed on the lid letting the resident know that they have been unable to take the bin.

“If any resident has had a heavy sticker left on the bin then they will be required to remove some of the contents, Smith added. (ANI)